Our Management Team

Wayne McLeod earned his pilot’s license in 1989 and started flying in Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba on float/wheeled planes, and he joined Keewatin Air in 1996. He began flying on the King Air at the Rankin Inlet base (where he also lived for 2 years) before advancing to the LearJet program performing International Air Ambulance missions.

Wayne left Keewatin Air in the spring of 1998 to become the Training and Standards Officer for the Manitoba Government Air Services branch, which included being a Captain on the CL-215 water bomber and Captain on the Citation jet for the Manitoba Air Ambulance Program. He returned to Keewatin Air in 2002 to assume the role of Chief Pilot.

Living in the Arctic gave Wayne a clear understanding of the challenges of operating in the Arctic on a 24/7 basis, and his experience in standards and training ensured the professionalism of our flight operations department. With over 10,000 hours of flying experience (the majority of it as northern flying and on medevacs) under his belt, and countless opportunities to prove his leadership and decision-making skills, he was ready to take on the next challenge. In 2005, Keewatin Air LP was purchased by Exchange Industrial Income Fund, now Exchange Income Corporation (EIC), and in February 2006, Wayne assumed the role of President of Keewatin Air.

Today, his ongoing hands-on involvement in the operation gives him a clear view of the day-to-day issues, as well as the long term direction that needs to be taken. In particular, his knowledge of the Northern and Winnipeg based air medical program has helped him lead the company into long term relationships with our clients. His focus on standards and his strong understanding and background of the air medical mission is critical to our ability to offer safe quality air medical services with sensitivity and professionalism.

Wayne is also the current President of NATA (Northern Air Transport Association), and sits as a director on MAHRC (Manitoba Aerospace and Human Resource Council).

Jena Steg joined Keewatin Air in 2019. As part of Keewatin's Executive Management Team, she is accountable for the financial and risk management operations of the company. She is also responsible for monitoring the financial and operational strategy for the organization.

Jena has over 10 years experience in financial and operational management. Prior to joining Keewatin Air, Jena worked in disaster management where she oversaw finance and fund operations for a national organization.

Jena became a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Manitoba in 2005. She received her CPA, CGA designation in 2013.

John Kliewer joined Keewatin Air in 2018. He provides senior leadership, strategy, operational continuous improvement, and organization development/excellence expertise to the management and staff of Keewatin Air. He also provides general human resources consultation and advice to the organization as appropriate.

In 1988 during his second year of studies at the University of Manitoba, John was accepted as an Officer Candidate in the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserves. In 1989, after graduating at the top of his class from the Canadian Forces Officer Development School, he received his Commission as a Second-Lieutenant. Over the next 14 years John completed over 3,000 missions as a Pilot, Flight Instructor, and Flying Standards Officer. As well, John was appointed to several command positions with respect to flight operations and training in Manitoba and Alberta. John also completed the Flight Safety/Accident Investigator Course with the RCAF Directorate of Flight Safety (DFS). Towards the later part of his service, John was attached to Air Command HQ in Winnipeg to support Provincial Operations in the Province of Manitoba. In 2006, John retired from the RCAF Reserves at the Rank of Captain, after having been awarded the Canadian Decoration (CD) Medal in 2004 for Long Service to the Canadian Armed Forces with exemplary conduct.

While serving in the military, John simultaneously completed his Science Degree at the University of Manitoba in 1990. Then in 1996, he began a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of Winnipeg. John went on to complete an advanced Certificate in Human Resources Management from the University of Manitoba from 2003 to 2005.

Being a ‘part-time’ military pilot allowed John to work in the private sector in the areas of organization/personnel development, and operations excellence. He held leadership and organization development positions in organizations ranging in size from 100 to over 1,000 employees. In 2011, John joined Manitoba Aerospace Inc., an organization supporting workforce, business/organization, and research/innovation development for the Province of Manitoba’s large aerospace and defence industries. In this position, John supported the CEOs, CFOs, and COOs of over 30 organizations in Manitoba, as well as organizations in Western Canada, and the UK. His support assisted these organizations to develop and implement world class management systems and methodologies, enhancing the ability of these organizations to be able to succeed in the very competitive aerospace and defence industries globally.

John has been a member of the association of Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Manitoba since 1997. He received the designation of: Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) in 2008. John currently volunteers with CPHR Manitoba as a member of the CPHR Awards of Excellence Judges Committee, which recognizes business and personnel innovation and excellence annually within the Province of Manitoba.

Jason Kendall joined Keewatin Air in 2010 as an AME and became the DOM/PRM in January of 2013 after successfully passing the Transport Canada interview.

Jason started his career in 2000 working in the rotary wing field throughout Manitoba and Nunavut. Jason graduated from Stevenson Aviation in Southport, MB in 2004 and in 2005 moved into the fixed wing field where he has enjoyed the challenges and gratification of working in the air ambulance division.

Jason has over 15 years of experience as an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) with substantial experience in remote operations. His experience maintaining aircraft in remote areas has given him exceptional skills with contingency planning and scheduling of maintenance events to optimize reliability facing the challenges of maintaining aircraft in remote areas, with long distance support.

Over the years he has gained experience maintaining fixed wing aircraft Twin Otters, Pilatus PC12, King Airs and Learjets. Jason maintains maintenance control over Keewatin Air’s 4 bases and is responsible for 27 employees; 6 apprentices, 15 AME’s (including 4 Production Managers), 2 parts personnel, 3 within the Q.A department and 1 Maintenance Manager.

Ken Giesbrecht joined Keewatin Air in July of 2019 to assist with the Company’s Pilot training programs. Recently he has stepped into the Director of Flight Operations role. He brings 44 years of diverse Aviation and Governmental experience to Keewatin Air.

Ken has extensive experience in the roles of Director of Fight Operations, Chief Pilot, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Accountable Executive, Elected President/CEO of the Canadian State Air Operators Association, Aviation Risk Manager, Aviation Consultant/ Technical Writer, Line Pilot and Flight Instructor.

With an excess of 9600 hours Ken has had the opportunity to work for several aviation organizations including two of our sister companies, Perimeter and Calm Air. He has broad flight experience throughout North America from the Artic to southern Mexico.

In his previous position Ken had the opportunity assist Transport Canada and companies from Israel, Japan and United States with technology and regulatory advancement. His belief in the teamwork concept and out of the box thinking allowed him to be a recipient of the Manitoba Government 2009 Service Excellence Award for Innovation.

Ken hopes to promote this teamwork and innovation philosophy at Keewatin Air and knows that honesty, integrity and humour play an import role in a healthy workplace.